Whether school libraries should limit materials across the board for all students, or whether that should be up to individual parents, is the crux of the matter in a school book ban controversy, according to an unofficial survey by Your Oregon News.
This comes after Sen. Lew Frederick, a Democrat from Portland, said there is a national movement of groups that have sought to ban school books motivated by discrimination against people of color, sexual orientation and gender identity .
Our readers said 49% of survey respondents are not involved in Oregon’s school districts. About 37% said they are involved as a parent, while 19% are involved as an educator and 12% as a student.
About 66% of reader respondents said books should never be banned or censored in schools. About 24% said bans should occur in some cases, while 10% said bans should always be in place. No one was undecided on this issue.
Many readers said access to unlimited literature helps students learn to differentiate between education (learning to check primary sources and media literacy) and indoctrination, but that parents—not schools—should still be involved in age-appropriate choices on an individual level.
Readers also said it’s important to have a good discussion along with reading books, especially with conflicting or challenging ideas.
Some readers said there should be no R-rated materials in elementary school libraries, and others said professional school librarians are already doing their job helping students find age-appropriate books.
Here’s how Your Oregon News readers feel about banning books in schools:
Reader: “Mostly, books should not be banned. Children should be able to learn about uncomfortable subjects. Parents are free to not allow certain books for their own child, but it isn't right for them to make the decision for everyone.”
Reader: “Banning books is the first step to control what information people have access to. School librarians are tasked to stock books appropriate for the age group. If kids are old enough to ask, they are old enough to get answers.”
Reader: “I feel children should have access to all aspects of literature, excluding pornography.”
Reader: “Banning books is an anti-educational thing to do. Students need to be offered a variety of perspectives to grow critical thinking and discernment skills. Let controversial ideas be studied, debated and reflected on personally. School is the place for this kind of learning. Let students grow.”
Reader: “There are subjects that are too mature for young children. It should be up to parents to decide when to introduce children to these subjects. They should not be openly available to all ages.”
Reader: “I think books in schools should be monitored and banned in some cases. Parents should have more of a say in how our educators are pushing a political agenda and or personal sexual narrative. Kids are committing suicide at an alarming rate. Too much pressure at school is not healthy for them.”
Reader: “If you don’t want to read it, don’t, no need to ban any book. There should be continued oversight and management for age appropriateness.”
Reader: “Young people can think for themselves! Banning books just hides things about the world from them.”
Reader: “Have a transparent and effective method of evaluating the subject matter and language in order to make teachers and parents aware of whatever controversial issues might arise. Then let teachers and parents make decisions about books in an educated and thoughtful manner.”
Reader: “Parents should judge what their kids read, not the schools. The solution is simple, just have it so the librarians have a list submitted by the parents of what their child is not allowed to read. This has been done in other schools in the country with great success."
Reader: “When I took my young child who was reading above grade level to my local public library and asked for help finding new books for him, the librarian explained to me that the public library doesn't censor books, so especially if a child is reading above their grade level, a parent needs to think about what is appropriate given their maturity and a librarian who is familiar with the books can help a parent navigate that. I really appreciated this explanation because I couldn't personally preview every book he would check out. In a school library, the kids are choosing for themselves. There isn’t a parent there asking the librarian for guidance. That is why I think school libraries need to be much more careful. Of course all sorts of books are available in a public library. School libraries need to be different — age appropriateness and respect for parents' authority in raising their kids needs to be respected.”
Reader: “To ban books is to deny knowledge, therefore creating incomplete thinking and expression.”
Reader: “Let school librarians and teachers do their jobs. They have college degrees — they have the knowledge and skills to make decisions about appropriate books and resources for the age levels of the students they serve, they understand state-level learning objectives students are expected to meet, and spend their scarce budgets accordingly. Parents and politicians should not have the power to censor information for all public school students. Public schools exist to serve everyone, and to provide access to as broad as educations as possible. If parents have concerns about required reading assigned to their own children, they should request an alternative assignment. If they want to prevent their children from being exposed to ideas they think objectionable, then they might think about turning off their televisions, withholding access to the internet, chaperoning all social interactions, and home schooling. Or, a better idea: let the kids read anything in the school library, and if it seems worrisome, read along with them and have a good discussion about why the message might conflict with or challenge certain cherished values. That’s what good teachers and librarians do.”
Reader: “The children and their parents should be the only people who decide what can or cannot be read by the child whether at school or in a library.”
Reader: “As a parent, I am very concerned about age inappropriate books being prominently displayed in my child’s school library.”
Reader: “No R-rated materials should be available to students.”
Reader: “Book choices should be left to our educators.”
Reader: “Books offer differing perspectives on how the world operates. Banning books takes away opportunities to grow and expand one’s knowledge and understanding about the world.”
Reader: “Allow parents to regulate content if they choose. I don’t think schools should ban.”
Reader: “There are books that children shouldn't see till they are at least in middle school.”
Reader: “I feel strongly that all children have the right to choose what they read. If children are people, they have the same constitutional rights as adults.”
Reader: “Schools should focus on higher learning of academic subjects — as such, school libraries should limit their offerings in pursuit of that learning.”
Reader: “Readers of all ages will be presented with information of all sorts through their lives. We all need the skills to agree or disagree and have open discussion to participate in society. School librarians are well trained to provide age appropriate reading. Parents need to participate and provide guidance for their families needs and culture. Censorship eliminates an individuals ability to choose for themselves.”
Reader: “One person's book banning is another's restricting access to age-inappropriate topics for the safety of children.”
Reader: “If you want to ensure a book is read, ban it. All banning a book does is make people want to read it.”
Reader: “Books are to expand minds. Parents need to parent their own children and if a book is objectionable, deal with it as a parent. And no, books should not be shelved behind a counter as a protective measure. Librarians are trained professionals and determining age levels for book shelving is in their purview and direction. book bans or restrictions based on people’s “discomfort” levels is an infringement on free speech. Even in a school (public). Kids will not be irreparably harmed by a library book.”
Reader: “Book bans come from small minds.”
Reader: “Don’t tell other people or the parents of young people what books should or shouldn’t be available to read. Just because I don’t care to read certain genres or about certain topics doesn’t mean other readers shouldn’t have access to them. As a child I went straight for the horse books. Encourage children to read what interests them.”
Reader: “Books need to be curated for the age of the reader.”
Reader: “Censorship should not be an option.”
Reader: “If parents don't want their kids to read something, they should either pay for a private school, or talk to their kids at home about what's appropriate for their family.”
Reader: “Most of the time I don’t agree with book bans but the books in schools need to be age appropriate. School libraries are not public libraries. I am responsible for protecting my children from inappropriate books at the public library but at school I need to feel that my kid is safe.”
Reader: “Don't like a book, don't read it but don't deny others the opportunity.”
Reader: “Censoring books based on political beliefs isn't going to help anyone. It curbs people's ideologies and gets their breadth of thinking smaller and smaller over time. The conversations we have with our children are more influential than most books. If people are worried about their children seeing something they don't agree with in their books, they should be creating a healthy home environment to talk through hard things, not banning the conversations, or books, at that.”
Reader: “Diversity in reading encourages diversity in life. Don’t put limits on diverse viewpoints.”
Reader: “People can always opt out of their own kids checking out books in the library and opt out of certain controversial subject matters in the classroom. They have no right to dictate and eliminate reading materials for other kids.”
Reader: “Books should never be banned in schools. If parents are worried about the content their children are reading they need to speak with their own children about concerns or find other means to educate their children.”
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